Summer Heat

Boy oh boy, summer is here and it is hot! I always enjoy looking at correlations between what's going on in our environment and what conditions I'm seeing in clinic. There has certainly been an uptick in what we would consider "hot" conditions in TCM. Here are just a few:

Anxiety

Insomnia

Heartburn/Reflux

Constipation

Anger/Irritability

Hot Flashes/Night Sweats

So if you're experiencing some of these symptoms, what can you do? Take a long walk off a short pier! Just kidding.

Well, not exactly.

Anything that physically cools you off can be helpful, like taking a dip in the pool or saving your workout for the early morning or evening hours (or going inside to an air conditioned gym).

Drinking good, clean water that is cool in temperature. As an acupuncturist I still don't recommend using ice often as over time it can deplete you and your ability to digest well, but in moderation I'll overlook this one.

Eating good, nutritious foods that aren't hot in nature can help as well. What foods are considered hot? Well, think of the summer classics. Fried, greasy foods, alcohol and sugar. Instead, go for cooling foods like vegetables and fruits. This is a good time to eat some salads.

eeping your cool. Try not to get too worked up by the craziness around you. Take a break from the news, meditate, do yoga or go for an evening stroll.

Summer may be heating up, but try these tools and see if you can stay cool as a cucumber. Oh, and as always, of course we can also help out with these symptoms with acupuncture and herbs. So feel free to reach out and let us help you too!